Pujols not disappointed to be left out

For most of his 11 seasons in St. Louis, Albert Pujols was a fixture on the National League All-Star team. He was selected to the team nine times and started the game seven times.

But he missed the game a year ago after an early-season slump and a wrist injury. This season started with the worst five-week stretch of Pujols' career. Even though he has rebounded to bat .313 with 12 home runs and 43 RBI in 52 games since May 5, he was not among the players voted on or selected for the AL team Sunday.

He acknowledged that going to the game in Kansas City -- near where he went to high school and junior college and where his mother still lives -- was a private goal when the city was announced as the host. But he still shrugged off this year's All-Star absence.

"No, I'm not disappointed," Pujols said. "You just have to accept God's plan for you. Everything happens for a reason. Sure, it would have been great to be there in Kansas City, a city that means a lot to me. But thank God, I'm healthy and hopefully it won't be my last chance to go to an All-Star Game.

"I've been there nine of my 12 years in my career. A lot of guys wish they could say that. I've been blessed. So, no, I don't use the word disappointed. The guys that got in ahead of me were so deserving -- and a lot of guys that didn't make it deserved to be there too."

Prince Fielder of the Tigers was voted in by fans as the AL starter at first base. Paul Konerko of the White Sox was added as the backup, along with a handful of other reserves also capable of playing first base if needed -- Angels outfielder Mark Trumbo, White Sox DH Adam Dunn, Royals DH Billy Butler, Twins catcher Joe Mauer, Tigers third baseman Miguel Cabrera and even the starter at catcher, Mike Napoli.

Pujols finished fifth in the fan voting among AL first basemen. He said there was a bright side to missing out on the All-Star Game -- he will now be able to travel back to the St. Louis area and watch his 11-year-old son, A.J., play in a youth baseball tournament.

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